'68 floor heat insulation shields

[G B.]

I'm installing stock heat insulation pads underneath the floor fiberglass of a '68 convertible. This car has a VIN in the 25,000 range. The original insulation pads are long gone, but the pointy-tab retainers are still there.

My questions concern the shields that usually cover the insulation. There are no provisions to attach them on this car. The '69 type white plastic shields require studs on the firewall. The metal underfloor shields require brackets riveted to the frame crossmember. This particular '68 never had those studs or the brackets.

My copy of the '68 assembly manual doesn't show the underfloor metal shields at all. Were these shields just a '69 up application?

The '68 AIM does show the white plastic firewall shields with attaching studs being introduced in the spring of '68. What was used to shield the insulation before that time and how was it attached?

My thanks to anyone willing to help me with these stupifyingly boring questions.

[Roy S.]

Re: '68 floor heat insulation shields

Jerry,

My 68 Bowtie/Duntov Convertible is 24,812. I will look at it as soon as I can and e-mail my findings back. It should be a good reference point as it is very close to the build of your car.

Roy Sinor

[Gene M.]

Re: '68 floor heat insulation shields

Jerry, I can offer info on the early production 68's. They have nothing to shield from heat. 68 early production just uses the sheet metal shields that screw into the frame just like 67's. I never noticed any difference in foot well temperature compared to the mid years.

[Bryan]

Re: '68 floor heat insulation shields

Hey Jerry, I have 68 conv. in the 4000 vin range. The firewall heat shields only have a bracket located at the bottom of firewall to attach the shields with no studs at the top. Looks like there were no underfloor heat shields at all. Only brackets (tabs) to mount the under tunnel insulation.

[G B.]

Hard to visualize

Roy, Gene, and Bryan -

I appreciate your responses. I understand about the lack of underfloor metal shields. You must be able to look right up at the insulation blankets.

But I'm unclear on the shields mounted to the firewall. Bryan - if they only mount to the one bottom bracket, how do they stay in place? The later white plastic firewall shields mount to two studs at the top in addition to the single bottom bracket. The white shields also stand out somewhat from the insulation blanket. Do the early shields stand out from the insulation too? What material are they made from? Are the right and left shields identical to each other?

[Roy S.]

Re: '68 floor heat insulation shields

Jerry,

I looked at the heat shields on my 17,000 mile L89 tonight. I will try to describe them for you. First under the floor pans there are insulated foil-backed pieces that appear to be very similar to the mid year trans tunnel insulation, these on the 68 may be a little thicker. Over those are metal shields which bolt to brackets that are riveted to the cross member in the rear and the possibly the firewall in the front. There are also white plastic shields over the foil-backed insulation on the forward part of the foot well/firewall. These plastic shields attach to two studs each which protrude through the firewall the shields use nuts to attach them at the top, the lower attachment uses the same bolt that attaches the metal pan and there appears to be only one attachment point each on the bottom of the plastic shields if this is not enough explanation let me know and I will look some more. Serial number of the car is 24812.

[G B.]

Crystal Clear

Roy -

Thanks for such a detailed description. I know that took some time to investigate.

I'll re-inspect the serial number on this car. Surely it can't be higher than yours and not have evidence of the crossmember brackets or the firewall studs. I'll just have to look at everything a little closer. Maybe the VIN is lower than yours or I missed seeing the fastener remains.